The Sacrifice

They did not question her virginity

or survey her, or give her an IQ test

just dragged her out by her hair

and led her to the stake

But she chose to step on the

pyre herself and raised her arms

in triumph or resistance

as they lit the matches and

did their ritual boogeying down

crowing and screaming

(Their chant may be loosely

translated as “Stop the Steal”

or something like that)

She began to burn, her hair

flamed an extraordinary purple

and her arms became golden wings

and she flew over the now

silent crowd

She was a trippy psychedelic

angel or a bird

leaving a flaming train as she

did figure 8s and loop – de – loops

and dive bombed

down towards the ground

and swooped back up again

as soon as they felt the heat

She was so splendid and mighty

the tribal warlords forgot

their pale white grievances

and burned their retinas

on her glory

She laughed as she chanted

Shanti Shanti Shanti Om

she cried out

for Peace Peace Peace

Beyond Any Understanding of it